Ezra Pound

Ezra Weston Loomis Pound was an American poet and critic. He lived from 1885 to 1972. Pound helped shape the work of many famous writers, such as H.D., Robert Frost, T. S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and James Joyce. His own famous works include Ripostes, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, and The Cantos.

Pound began his career in the early 1900s by supporting clear writing in poetry through a group called Imagism. He worked with many writers in London and helped publish early versions of important books and poems.

Later, Pound moved to Italy. During World War II, he made radio speeches supporting the Italian government. After the war, he was held by U.S. forces but was later released. Because of his strong opinions, Pound remained a controversial figure. People still discuss his life and work today.

Early life and education (1885–1908)

Pound was born in 1885 in Hailey, Idaho Territory. His father worked for a government office, and his family came from England.

When he was little, Pound moved to New York with his mother. He went to local schools and later to a military academy. At the academy, he learned drills and shooting. He also traveled to Europe with his mother and visited several countries.

Pound went to the University of Pennsylvania and then Hamilton College in New York. He studied languages and read classic poems. After finishing school, he taught languages at a college in Indiana but left after a short time. Then he sailed to Europe.

London (1908–1914)

Pound arrived in London after traveling through several places. He brought copies of his first book of poems. He found a place to stay and made friends with other writers and artists. He worked with a magazine and helped find and support many talented writers.

In 1909, Pound met Dorothy, who later became his wife. He joined London's literary community and met many famous writers. He published more books of poetry and started a new way of writing called Imagism. Imagism focused on clear and simple language. Pound also helped other writers, like James Joyce, share their work with the world.

World War I and leaving England (1914–1921)

When the war began in 1914, it changed things for writers, who were now often asked to write patriotic poems. Ezra Pound earned less money during this time.

In 1914, poet T. S. Eliot showed Pound a poem called "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Pound liked it very much and helped it get published in 1915.

Pound also translated 25 poems from Classical Chinese, using notes from a person named Ernest Fenollosa. These translations, called Cathay, were liked by some people, but others had different ideas about them.

After Cathay, Pound started working on a very long poem called The Cantos. In 1917, he published the first three parts, called "Three Cantos."

In 1920, Pound published a poem named Hugh Selwyn Mauberley, which said goodbye to London. He felt that people there did not appreciate his work, so he decided to move to France. The poem talked about many topics, including the literary world, society, and the war.

Paris (1921–1924)

Ezra Pound and his wife moved to Paris in 1921. There, he made friends with artists and writers, including Marcel Duchamp, Fernand Léger, Tristan Tzara, and Basil Bunting. In 1922, young writer Ernest Hemingway visited Pound, who helped guide his early work.

Pound also received a manuscript from poet T. S. Eliot called The Waste Land. Pound edited the poem, making it shorter and clearer. Eliot later thanked Pound for his help.

Italy (1924–1939)

The Pounds were not happy in Paris, so they moved to a quieter place in Rapallo, a seaside town in Italy, in October 1924. During this time, a woman named Olga Rudge, who was expecting a child with Pound, followed them to Italy. In July 1925, she gave birth to their daughter, Maria. Pound and Rudge chose to have Maria raised by a family in a nearby town.

In 1933, Pound met with an important leader and felt he was now a person of influence. He wrote books and articles supporting this leader’s ideas. Pound believed that certain economic problems were caused by specific groups and shared his views in many letters and articles. He also traveled to the United States to try to prevent America from joining World War II, speaking with lawmakers and giving talks.

World War II and radio broadcasts (1939–1945)

Letter-writing campaign

When the war began in 1939, Pound wrote many letters to politicians. In these letters, he shared his political views and made unkind remarks about some groups of people. He sent these letters to important people like politicians and publishers.

Radio broadcasts

From 1941 to 1945, Pound gave many radio speeches for a station in Italy. These speeches were in English and sometimes in other languages. They were sent to places like England and the United States. In these speeches, Pound talked about his political views and criticized some leaders and countries.

Arrest for treason

Later, Pound was taken by soldiers and put in a small, tough cage outdoors. He stayed there for a while and began writing poems. After some time, he was moved to a tent where he continued to write.

United States (1945–1958)

St. Elizabeths Hospital

Pound returned to Washington, D.C., in November 1945, before some important court trials. He was charged with treason and put in a secure room in a hospital. Doctors said he was not well enough to stand trial. He was moved to a special ward with small windows. Later, he was allowed more comfortable spaces to read, write, and have visitors.

The Pisan Cantos, Bollingen Prize

In 1946, a friend prepared some of Pound’s writings for publication. In 1948, these writings won a major poetry prize. This caused debate because of Pound’s past actions. Some people felt it was wrong for him to receive this honor.

Diagnosis

Doctors examined Pound and talked about his mental state. Over time, their understanding of his condition changed. They considered different reasons for his behavior.

Political activities while hospitalized

During his time in the hospital, Pound met and talked with several people who shared his strong political views. He stayed involved in discussions about race and government, even writing articles for newspapers under different names.

New Times articles

Pound wrote many articles for a newspaper between 1955 and 1957. In these articles, he shared his opinions on race and world events, often using different names so people would not know he wrote them.

Release

Friends and supporters kept trying to help Pound leave the hospital. In 1958, a lawyer filed papers to end his confinement. The hospital’s director agreed that Pound would not get better and that keeping him there was not helpful. A judge approved his release in May 1958.

Italy (1958–1972)

Ezra Pound and his wife Dorothy arrived in Naples in July 1958. They met a young teacher named Marcella Spann. Soon after, they moved near Merano in South Tyrol with Pound’s daughter Maria. Dorothy later sent Spann back to the United States.

By late 1959, Pound was feeling very sad. Friends noticed changes in him, and he sometimes doubted his life’s work. In 1961, he went to live with Olga Rudge, first in Rapallo and then in Venice. In 1966, after surgery, he got help at a hospital in Genoa. He kept creating art and received recognition for his work.

In 1972, Pound became very weak and was taken to a hospital in Venice, where he passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was buried in Venice’s San Michele cemetery with other famous people.

Critical reception

After getting an award in 1949, Pound's friends tried to help his reputation. They put out books of his poems and essays. They sometimes said his bad ideas came from problems with his mind.

Pound helped many well-known writers by letting them share their work. He had a big effect on poetry and writing. But some people think his actions during World War II were more important than his good work. Others argue if his poetry should be thought about separately from his later beliefs and actions.

Selected works

Ezra Pound wrote many important poems and books. Some of his well-known works include Ripostes from 1912, Hugh Selwyn Mauberley from 1920, and The Cantos, which he worked on from around 1915 to 1962.

Pound also helped other writers by sharing their work with the world. He supported poets and authors like H.D., Robert Frost, T. S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway, and James Joyce.

Explanatory notes

No explanatory notes were provided in the source content for this section.